Since soccer supporters, journalists, lawmakers, and politicians were unable to force FIFA President Sepp Blatter to resign perhaps sponsors will have better luck. After another week damming allegations against Blatter, FIFA sponsors Coca-Cola, Anheuser Busch, Visa, and McDonalds have now called for his resignation.
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In a statement released to the public Coca-Cola said, “Every day that passes Fifa’s image and reputation continues to tarnish.”
In their own statement McDonalds would add, “The events of recent weeks have continued to diminish the reputation of FIFA and public confidence in its leadership. We believe it would be in the best interest of the game for FIFA President Sepp Blatter to step down immediately so that the reform process can proceed with the credibility that is needed.”
These calls for Blatter to step down come on the heels of fresh reports of alleged corruption from Mr. Blatter. The latest allegations of misappropriation stem from a 2005 television rights deal that was brokered by Blatter and former Vice President Jack Warner. According to a report by Swiss telvision channel SRF the deal was a multi-million dollar coup for Warner. There was also the opening of a criminal investigation by the Swiss government last week alleging that he paid UEFA President Michel Platini $2 million pounds for his assistance in helping Qatar win the 2022 World Cup bid.
Despite mounting pressure from four of FIFA’s most prominent sponsors, it appears that Blatter is not budging. In a statement released through his lawyers Blatter said, “While Coca-Cola is a valued sponsor of Fifa, Mr Blatter respectfully disagrees with its position and believes firmly that his leaving office now would not be in the best interest of Fifa nor would it advance the process of reform. And, therefore, he will not resign.”
That may sound like narcissism at its finest but there is some truth to it. It is great that these sponsors are calling for Blatter to resign but unless they actually pull out of their deals with FIFA they are just empty words. It is nice that they now recognize FIFA’s alleged malfeasance, which has existed for decades, but if these companies want to be taken seriously they may need to act.
The one sliver of hope in this situation is that eventually at some point the pressure will be so great that the members of FIFA will have to act. If FIFA wants their reform efforts to be taken seriously they will need to at some point to compromise on their current position. It is untenable and will be made even more difficult with added pressure from sponsors and the prospect of additional arrests. Those that force Blatter out of power might not be clean themselves but out of desperation, to keep the current power structure, it may be necessary.
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In their own statement McDonalds would add, “The events of recent weeks have continued to diminish the reputation of FIFA and public confidence in its leadership. We believe it would be in the best interest of the game for FIFA President Sepp Blatter to step down immediately so that the reform process can proceed with the credibility that is needed.”